The Islamic State (IS) Islamist group said it was behind a double bombing of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Thursday that killed at least 32 people and injured more than 100.
It was targeted on Shia Muslims, the Sunni militant group Amaq said in a statement.
It has been the deadliest suicide bombing in Baghdad in three years.
Admitting Responsibility
The bombers exploded in a crowd of shoppers at a second-hand clothing market in Tayaran Square.
The admission of responsibility by the jihadist group, made by its accounts on the Telegram messaging app, came a few hours after the attack.
Suicide bombings have been rare in Baghdad since IS was defeated in a regional war at the end of 2017.
IS’ Role In Iraq
IS once held an area of 88,000 sq km (34,000 sq miles) from eastern Iraq to western Syria and imposed its cruel rule on nearly eight million people.
Despite the defeat of IS on the battlefield, a UN report last August estimated that more than 10,000 IS troops are still operating in Iraq and Syria.
Sleeper cells continue to fight low-level protests, operating mainly in rural areas and targeting security forces.
The Bomb Blast
In an attack on Thursday morning, the first suicide bomber rushed to the market and gathered a crowd around him feeling sick, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
One of the store managers told Reuters: “He pressed the detonator in his hand. It exploded and people were torn to pieces.”
The second bomber blew himself up as others came to help the victims, according to the ministry.
Eyewitnesses say Tayaran Square has been busy following a reduction in nearly the age limit for coronavirus-related restrictions.
Reactions
The last suicide attack in Baghdad took place in the same square in January 2018, when 35 people were killed.
Iraqi President Barham Saleh has led criticism of the latest attack, saying the government “will stand firm against these attempts to overthrow our country”.
Pope Francis, who is planning a visit to Iraq in March, has sent a message to Mr Saleh “disregarding this senseless act of cruelty”.
The US, EU and UN have also condemned the attack.
The 2018 attacks came just months before parliamentary elections and Iraq plans to hold another general election by the end of the year.
The government recently announced that the planned vote would be rescheduled from June to October to give the authorities more time to register voters and new parties.
